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Lending Money to a Brother

Text: Deuteronomy 24:10-18
5 March 2019

LENDING MONEY TO A BROTHER

1. Brother

a) A fellow Israelite
b) Not a direct family member

2. Concerning pledges (collateral)

a) Not allowed into a brother’s house   (Deuteronomy 24:11)
b) The lender must remain outside
c) The borrower will bring the “pledge” to the lender   (Deuteronomy 24:11)

3. If the borrower is poor

a) He will still have to give “a pledge”
b) But if it is a cloak, then the garment must be returned at night   (Deuteronomy 24:12)
c) It might be the only thing that keeps him warm at night   (Deuteronomy 24:13)
d) This would be considered an act of righteousness   (Deuteronomy 24:13)

A HIRED HAND

1. The hired hand may be very poor

2. He is not to be oppressed

3. This rule applies

a) All from Israel
b) Aliens residing in the country   (Deuteronomy 24:14)

4. Payment of the hired hand

a) Daily wages to be given   (Deuteronomy 24:15a)
b) Wages cannot be delayed for any reason   (Deuteronomy 24:15b)
c) He may cry out of anguish to the Lord   (Deuteronomy 24:15c)
d) This would then be a sin   (Deuteronomy 24:15d)
e) Cf. James 5:4

PENALTY OF SIN

1. The death penalty

2. Each person is to bear the penalty incurred

3. Fathers cannot be put to death for sons

4. Neither can sons be put to death for children

5.An ancient Proverb of Israel   (Ezekiel 18)

NO PERVERSION OF JUSTICE

1. Justice to be upheld

a) For the stranger (non Israelite)
b) For the fatherless (children)
c) The cloak of a widow cannot be taken away

2. Injustice was a common problem

a) The poor
b) The weak and helpless

KINDNESS TO THE POOR

1. The past must never be forgotten

2. When Israel was a slave in Egypt

3., God’s redemption to be remembered   (Deuteronomy 24:18)

4. The law of kindness must be practised